Combination brassiere and detachable lower garment



ec. 2Q, 1966 D. STElNBEFEGER COMBINATION BRASSIERE AND DETACHABLE LUWER GARMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 31, 1964 INVENTOR. flora died/1b.?

COMBINATION BRASSIERE AND DETACHABLE LOWER GARMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 31, 1964 INVENTOR.

ATTURN 5.

Dec. 20, 1966 D. STEINBERGER 3,292$29 COMBINATION BRASSIERE AND DETACHABLE LOWER GARMENT Filed Dec. 31, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I NVE NTOR United States Patent Ofitice 3,292,629 Patented Dec. 20, 1966 3,292,629 COMBINATION BRASSIERE AND DETACHABLE LOWER GARMENT Dora Steinberger, 2157 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10023 Filed Dec. 31, 1964, Ser. No. 422,706 1 Claim. (Cl. 128-439) This invention relates generally to ladies undergarments and more particularly to a combination garment such as a brassiere and a lower garment.

In all brassiere constructions with which applicant is aware, the brassiere is openable at the rear. In such constructions, the fastener elements are difficult to reach and operate.

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate such disadvantages by providing a combination brassiere and a lower garment wherein the brassiere is openable from the front.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined brassiere and girdle garment wherein the stresses and strains of the brassiere are disassociated from the girdle and vice versa.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a combination brassiere and lower garment at the rear of the latter.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and acompanying drawings and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the acompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a combination brassiere and girdle embodying one form of the invention, the garment being shown extended as in use,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof,

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view showing the brassiere extended and detached from the girdle,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a bathing suit including a combined brassiere portion and skirt portion, embodying a modified form of the invention,

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of the brassiere portion,

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view thereof, the skirt portion being shown slightly loosened,

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the top of the skirt portion and the rear bottom of the brassiere portion,

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a combined brassiere and panty girdle garment shown extended as in use,

FIG. 10 is a rear elevational view thereof, parts being broken away,

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a combined brassiere and petticoat shown extended as in use, and

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view thereof.

Referring now in detail to the various views of the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is shown a garment 10 embodying one form of the invention. Garment 10 is constituted by a brassiere construction 12 and a girdle construction 14, the construction being held in overlapped relation at the rear by a tape closure asesmbly 16 of the slidable fastener type known as a zipper closure.

The brassiere construction 12 comprises a pair of breast pockets 18, 18, at the front, and lower front portions 20,

20 which are between the breast pockets and waist line. The pockets may be formed of mesh fabric, satin or the like. Narrow strips of fabric or lace 22 are preferably stitched around the bototm and sides of the breast pockets, for decorative purposes. Stays 24 extend from the arm pits to the waistline. An integral rear band 26 connects the breast pockets and lower portions. Integral shoulder straps 28 connect the top of the breast pockets with the band at the rear.

The girdle construction 14 comprises a front panel 30, an insert 32 centrally 0f the front panel and a waistband 34 above the front panel and insert. The front panel 39 is formed of fabric or lace and is stretchable two ways in order to control the abdomen.

The insert 32 is formed of mesh fabric and extends from the waistband 34 to the bottom edge of the girdle construction. The material of the insert is nonstretchable.

The waistband 34 is formed of the same material as the front panel and dips at its center into the insert 32. Reinforcing stays 36 across the waistband 34 into the front panel 30. Reinforcing stays 38 extend at the sides of the girdle construction from the top edge of the Waistband 34 to a point closely spaced from the bottom edge of the girdle construction.

At the rear, the girdle construction 14 comprises a fabric panel 40 extending from the waistline to the bottom edge of the girdle construction. The panel 40 is preferably formed of satin or other suitable fabric material and is stretchable in one way, in a vertical direction, as viewed in FIG. 3. Side fabric panels 42, 42 are interposed between the front panel 30 and the rear panel 40 of the same material as the fnont panel. The side panels are secured to the rear panel 40 by lines of stitching 44 and to the front panel 30 by lines of stitching 46.

A tape 48 of the same material as the rear panel 40 is secured across the outer surface of the back panel closely spaced from the top edge thereof. 'The tape is secured by lines of stitching 50 leaving one long edge 52 of the tape free, the top edge as viewed in FIG. 3, to support projecting metal teeth 54 therealong.

A fabric tape 56 of similar dimensions is similarly secured to the inner surface of the rear band 26 of the brassiere construction 12 closely spaced from the bottom edge thereof. One free edge of the tape, the bottom edge as viewed in FIG. 3, supports projecting teeth 50.

When the bottom edge of the band 26 of the brassiere construction 12 is in overlapping relation with the top edge of the rear panel 40 as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the teeth 54 and 58 are in mesh as seen in FIG. 4 and form a trackway for a slider device 60 adapted to be pulled along the trackway by means of a pull tab 62 to open and close the teeth and thereby join and detach the brassiere construction and girdle construction in the usual manner of a slide fastener device.

In accordance with the invention, the free ends of the brassiere construction 12 are fastened together at the front. For this purpose, 'a short tape 64 of fabric has one long edge secured to the inner surface of the decorative strip 22 of one of the breast pockets 18, the left breast pocket, at the top and front side thereof, as viewed in FIG. 1. A series of spaced metal eyes 66 are secured to the attached edge of the tape 64. A short fabric tape 64 is stitched to the inner surface of the decorative strip 22 of the other breast pocket, at the top and front side thereof as viewed in FIG. 1, and fastened to tape 66 there is a series of spaced'metal hooks 68 adapted to be hooked into the eyes 66 for releasably fastening the brassiere construction around the breast of the wearer.

In FIGS. 5 to 8, inclusive, a modified form of the invention is illustrated in the form of a bathing suit 10 composed of a brassiere construction 12' and a skirt construction 14' over a pantie, the crotch portion 70 of which is shown.

The brassiere construction 12'1 comprises a pair of front panels 20, 20 and breast pockets 18, 18' thereabove. A rear \band 26' connects the front panels by means of stitching 72. Integral shoulder straps 28 connect the top edge of the rear band with the breast pockets. The front panels 20', 20' are separate from each other and the end edges thereof are detaehably fastened to each other at the front by a tape closure assembly of the slidable fastener type known as a zipper closure. This zipper closure consists of tapes 76 and 76 along the end edges of the front panels, with meshing teeth 78 projecting from the tapes. A slide device 60 :rides over the meshing teeth and is adapted to open and close the teeth. The device 60' is pulled by a tab 62'.

The skirt construction 14 comprises a front panel 30', side panels 42 and rear panel 40' formed of suitable fabric material joined by a waistband 79 at the top thereof. The front panel and one of the side panels, the right hand side panel as viewed in FIG. 1, are separated at the top and middle thereof forming an opening which is closed by a slidable fastener of the zipper type including tapes 80, 80 along the edges of the panels with meshing teeth 82 projecting from the meeting edges of the tapes. A slide device 60' opens and closes the teeth and is pulled by a tab 62'. A horizontal decorative bow 84 is preferably and suitably fastened across the center top of the front panel.

The brassiere construction 12' is readily and 'detachably fastened to the skirt construction 14' at the rear by means of a slide fastener arrangement consisting of a fabric tape 56' along the full length of the bottom edge of the rear band 26 of the brassiere construction, with teeth 58' projecting therefrom in mesh with similar teeth 54' on a similar tape 48' extending across the rear skirt panel 40' and extending into the side panels 42' closely spaced from the waistband 79 of the skirt construction. The tape 48 dips slightly midway its ends as seen in FIG. 8. A slide 'device 60' slidable over the meshing teeth is adapted to open and close the same. A pull tab 62 actuates the slide device. The remainder of the brassiere construction is unattached to the skirt construction.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a combined brassiere and panty girdle foundation garment 10" embodying another modified form of the invention. This garment 10" consists of a brassiere 12" and a pantry girdle 14" adapted to be joined to each other at the rear.

The brassiere 12" consists of a pair of front panels 20", 20" and breast pockets 18", 18" thereabove. A rrear band 26" connects the front panels by means of stitching 86. Ornamental tapes 22' are stitched around the bottom and sides of the breast pockets.

The panty girdle 14" consists of a one-piece tubular body portion 88 composed of elastic material stretchable vertically and horizontally, a pair of leg portions 90 secured to the body portion by rows of stitching 92, 92, and a crotch portion 94 secured to the body and leg portions by stitching 96. The leg portions and crotch portions are formed of the same material as the body portion.

In accordance with this form of the invention, the free ends of the brassiere are disposed at the front and are 'detachably fastened to each other by means of a tape 64" along one end edge supporting metal eyes 66", and metal hooks 68" secured to the other end of the brassiere on the inner surfaces of the ends. The brassiere is thus readily opened at the front.

The brassiere is readily attached to the panty girdle 60" actuated by a pull tab 62" opens and closes the meshing teeth. The remainder of the brassiere is unattached.

The modified form of garment 10a shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is similar to the foundation garmentlo" of FIGS. 9 and 10 except that the brassiere 12a instead of being attached to a panty girdle is attached to a petticoat 14a, at the rear of the waistband 91 thereof. In

all respects, it is the same and similar reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have devised a combined :brassiere and lower garment wherein the brassiere is readily openable from the front.

It will also be seen that I have devised a garment of this type which effectively separates the tensions and interactions of the brassiere from the lower garment and vice versa. Thus the brassiere is not unduly pulled downwardly by the lower garment and, conversely, the

lower garment does not pull the brassiere whether the wearer is bending, sitting, or twisting sideways. The brassiere is permitted to maintain a comfortable position as controlled by the length of the shoulder straps while the lower garment will not exert an uncomfortable drag or pull on the shoulder straps.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood.

that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent A foundation garment comprising in combination a brassiere and a nether garment, the front bottom portion of the brassiere being free of the front top portion of the nether garment, the rear bottom portion of the brassiere being connected to the rear top portion of the nether garment, the means of connection including a tape along the rear top edge of the nether garment on the outer surface thereof, teeth projecting upwardly from the top edge of the tape, a tape along the rear bottom edge of the brassiere on the inner surface thereof, teeth projecting downwardly from the bottom edge of the latter tape, meshing with the teeth on the first-named tape, a slide device ridable over the meshing teeth for opening and closing said teeth, a pull tab for actuating said slide device, the ends of said brassiere being releasab 1y fastened to each other at the front of the garment.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,979,540 11/1934 Gershen H--. 128435 2,118,592 5/ 1938 Davis 128-435 2,465,518 3/ 1949 Deutsch 2-73 2,560,145 7/1951 Wanish 12.8441

ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner. 

